Circulating whipstock



March 23,

E. A. AN DERSON CIRCULATING WHIPSTOCK Filed April 17. 1963 y f1? /f/3 f/ff a T721 gg F0/w07 Ano/enr on INVENTOR.

Maya www' United States Patent O 3,174,549 CIRCULATING WSTQCK Edwin A. Anderson, 1104 Chimney Rock Road, Houston, Tex. Filed Apr. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 273,652 6 Claims. (Cl. 16d-117.5)

The present invention relates to a drilling apparatus, and more particularly, to a circulating whipstock which enables fluid to be circulated therethrough regardless of the pressure of the fluid.

Various types of circulating whipstocks have been heretofore proposed and used in connection with the drilling of well bores. All of such devices present certain problems and objections. For example, the circulation of the lluid through the whipstock is accomplished in some devices in a manner that requires fracturingrof a conduit or a tube so that a portion of the conduit may become lost in the Well bore; in other devices, the circulation through the whipstock may not be selectively controlled so as to obtain the desired result; and some devices are constructed so that they will not function properly under high fluid pressure.

It is desirable to utilize as high fluid pressure and volume as possible to aid in washing sediment and debris off the well bore bottom prior to setting the whipstock thereon.

The present invention provides an apparatus which overcomes the above and other disadvantages presently encountered in circulating whipstocks and which discharges a maximum of high pressure fluid through the whipstock to clean the well bore bottom prior to setting the whipstock thereon.

An object of the present invention is to provide a circulating whipstock which is fail safe.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a circulating Whipstock wherein fluid may be circulated through the whipstock so as to flush all cuttings and sediment off the bottom of the well bore prior to setting the whipstock on the bottom of the well bore.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a circulating whipstock incorporating a iluid passage therein so as to clear any debris or sediment olf the bottom of the Well bore prior to setting the whipstock thereon, the construction and arrangement of the circulating whipstock being such that pressure fluid may be circulated to the whipstock at any desired pressure without fear of prematurely actuating other components of the tool structure.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a circulating whipstock that is adapted to function under high pressures so as to enable the cleaning of the bottom of the well bore prior to setting the whipstock thereon.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel connection for a whipstock to enable it to be more quickly and easily secured to a drill string.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a drilling apparatus including a circulating Whipstock which is constructed and arranged so that all of the fluid from a drill string may be initially directed to a passage extending longitudinally in the whipstock so as to wash sediment and debris off the bottom of the well bore prior to setting the Whipstock thereon and which drilling apparatus includes valve means which may be actuated after the bottom of the well bore is cleaned so as to close olf flow through the passage of the whipstock and thereafter circulate all of the well fluid through the lower end of the drilling string.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a circulating whipstock that does not require a special bit, and one which can be employed with any type of bit.

@H4549 Patented Maru, 23, 1965 ICC Still another object of the invention is to provide a circulation whipstock which can be used to wash out restrictions, bridges, and the like any place in the well bore without danger of prematurely actuating the tool to change the flow therethrough.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawing wherein:

FIG. l is a sectional View illustrating the preferred embodiment of the present invention and illustrating the relationship of the components when the uid is circulated through the whipstock to clean the well bore;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view illustrating the relationship of the components after the invention is actuated and the drill string moved longitudinally relative to the whipstock to shear the connection therebetween; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the novel from of the shear pin forming part of connecting means used for connecting the whipstock and drill string together.

Attention is rst directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings wherein the invention is referred to generally by the numeral 10. A drill string 11 is provided which extends to the earths surface and provides a means whereby drilling fluid may be discharged through the bore 12 formed therein, such drill string also providing a means whereby the drill bit 13a secured on the lower end of the drill string may be rotated during drilling operations.

The present invention is adapted to be secured to the lower part of the drill string 11. A body 13 is threadedly connected to and forms a part of the drill string 11, and a sub 13b is connected to body 13 and the bit 13a is connected to the lower end of 13b. The whipstock 14 is connected to or supported on sub 13b as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The whipstock is formed in a well-known manner and provides an inclined face 15 thereon so that when the whipstock is faced in a predetermined and desired direction in the well bore, the bit 13a may be moved downwardly Vtherealong and is guided laterally relative to the Well bore to thereafter upon further rotation and extension of the drill string form a deflected portion of the well bore.

Normally, the whipstock 14 is set on the bottom of the well bore and the deflected portion formed or drilled at an angle relative to the bottom of the well bore. Therefore, it is necessary and desirable to remove any sediment or cuttings from the well bore prior to setting the Whipstock thereon so that the driller will be sure that the deilected portion is formed in the proper portion of the well bore. In order to accomplish this result, the present invention is constructed and arranged so that fluid from the bore 12 of drill string 11 may be circulated initially through the passage 34 in closure 33 to be discharged through passage means'28 formed in the whipstock 14 in a manner to flush or wash any cuttings and debris oft the bottom of the well bore prior to setting the lower end 16 of the whipstock on the bottom of the well bore. After this has been accomplished, the device is constructed so that all further flow through the whipstock may be cut oit, and thereafter, the llow may be circulated through the body 13 and drill bit 13a secured at the lower end thereof in the normal manner during drilling operations.

With further attention to FIG. 1 it will be noted that the body 13 includes passage means 20 which communicates with the bore 12 of the drill string 11. The whipstock 14 extends longitudinally from the body 13 and is connected thereto by the means represented generally by the numeral 21 which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Valve means designated generally by the numeral 25 is provided in the body 13, such valve means 25 including passage means 26 formed therein which is connected so; as to communicate with the passage means 54 in shear pin 50 of connecting means 21 whereby uid may be circulated to the passage means 28 formed longitudinally in the whipstock 14 when the components of the valve are in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

The valve means 25 also includes passage means 30 which communicates with the chamber 31' formed in the body 13 surrounding the valve means 25 whereby uid may be circulated therethrough to the drill bit 13a secured at the lower end thereof; however, closure means 33 when in the position shown in FIG. l prevents communication between passage means and bore 12 in drill string 11.

The closure means 33 provided in the valve means Z5 includes a longitudinally extending passage 34 therethrough so that when the closure means 33 is positioned as shown in FIG. 1, communication from the bore 12 of the drill string 11 to the passage means 26 and thence to the passage means 28 in the whipstock 14 is affected while closing off communication of passage means 39 and bore 12.

The closure means 33 is positioned or supported in the valve means 25 by means of the shear pins 35 carried in member 49 and which engage in openings 35a formed in the cylindrical closure 33. The shear pins support closure 33 so that it initially prevents communication between the bore 12 of the drill string 11 and the chamber 31 surrounding the valve means 25 in the body 13 as previously noted. Thus, all of the uid is directed from drill string 11 through the closure means 33 and to the passage 28 in the whipstock 14 for aiding in washing out or cleaning off the bottom of the well bore prior to setting the lower end 16 of the whipstock 14 thereon.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the foregoing construction enables all of the fluid of any pressure to be discharged from-the bore 12 of the drill string 11 through the closure 33, passage means 26, passage means 54 formed in the shear pin 50 of the connecting means 21, and thence to the passage means 28 formed in the whipstoek 14 so that the maximum cleaning effect may be exerted' on the bottom of the well bore. After the cleaning operation has been effected, suitable means, such as a rod, ball, or the like, may be dropped or lowered through the drill string 11 to close off the passage means 34 in the closure means 33.

In FIG. 2 of the drawings, such means is illustrated as being in the form of a ball'36 that may be dropped into the drill string at the earths surface ofl suitable size to pass through the passage 34 and rest on the annular seat ring 37 so as to close off the passage 34 to further flow therethrough. After the passage 34 has been closed off, the closure 33 in effect becomes a piston, and fluid pressure thereagainst shears the pins 35-so that the closure 33 moves in the valve` means 25 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. When this occurs, the passage or port means 36 in cyiindrical housing 4G is uncovered so as to communicate the bore 12 of the drill string 11 through the body 13 with he drill bit 13a connected on the lower end of 13b and further communication to the passage 29 in whipstock 14 is prevented.

The cylinder member 40 of valve means 25 is provided with seal means 41 at its upper end which is received in the counterbore 42 formed in the passage 20 of' the body 13. The cylindrical member 40 is supported at its lower end on the shoulder on tting 44 with seal means therebetween in the manner as shown in FIGS. l and 2 of the drawings. The fitting 44 in turn is threadedly secured to the spider 45 which is carried on the shoulder 46 formed in the body 13b- Suitable means as shown at 47 are provided for connecting the cylindrical member 41 and the fitting 44 together, and a pin 48 is adapted to be received in the groove 49 of the spider 45 so as to align the spider 45'to receive the shear pin 50 of the connecting means 21 in the lower end thereof.

The valve means 25 in eect includes the cylindrical member 40, the Iitting 44, and the spider 45 with the passage means 26 being formed through the tting 44 and the spider 45 in the manner as illustrated in the drawings. The spider 45 is constructed with passage means 45d for accommodating fluid circulation through elements 13 and 13b to the drill bit 13a when closure 33 has been shifted.

The closure member 33 is provided with seal means 34a and 34b adjacent each end thereof to inhibit fluid circulation therearound. The seat 37 may be held in posiation in the passage 34 by means of the threaded nut 36a which is engaged in one end of the passage 34 as shown in the drawings.

The connecting means 21 includes the shear pin 50 better shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the shear pin 50 including the shaft 51 with the offset head portion 52. An annular groove 53 is provided in shaft 51 with a tapered shoulder 53a at one end anda radial shoulder 53h at the other end of recess or groove 53 whereby the shear pin portion in the body 13b may be retained therein after the shear pin 50 has been sheared as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. A groove 51a around shaft 51 insures that the shear pin 50 will shear at the groove 51a to obtain a clean break of the shear pin Sii between whipstock 14 and sub 13b.

A great deal of difficulty is encountered at the present time in endeavoring to threadedly secure a pin through a whipstock and into a drill string because quite often the holes are offset or mismatched, and the present connecting means 21 is provided to overcome this defect and to provide an arrangement whereby the shear pin may be easily and quickly inserted and quickly replaced when necessary.

As shown in the drawings, the shear pin 50 extends through the whipstock 14 and connects through the body 13b so that its passage means 54 formed therein may communicate with the lower end of the passage means 26.

The connecting means 21 includes a support ring 6i) which may be secured to the whipstock 14 by suitable means such as welding or the like as shown at 61, the support ring 6G including a recessed portion 62 and a threaded opening 63 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. A passage 64 is formed through the ring 60 so that the passage means 54 in shear pin 50 and passage means 28 in the whipstock may communicate with each other.

A collet 68 is threadedly secured in the recess 69 of body 13b, there being a groove 7)` formed in the recess 69 so that a ring 71 may be positioned therein after the collet 68 has been secured in position to aid in holding the collet 63 in the body 13b. The collet 63 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced and longitudinally extending fingers or projections 72 as shown in FIG. l of the drawings which have radially inwardly extending portions 73 that fit within the recess 53 on the shear pin Si) when the shear -pin is seated in place. In addition, suitable seal means 74 are provided between the shaft 51 oi' the shear pin 50 and the lower end of fitting 45 to prevent the loss of any fluid as it is circulated from the passage 26 to the passage 54 in the shear pin 50. Also, suitable seal means as shown at 75 are provided for sealing between the collet 68 and shaft 51 of the shear pin 50, and'seal means 76 are provided for sealing between the collet 68 and the body 13b.

Similarly, seal means 78 and 79 are provided between the shear pin 59 and the support ring 60 in the whipstock 14`as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

In assembling the whipstock 14, body 13, and sub 13b, the whipstock may be manually rotated on 13b until the opening 80 formed in the ring 66 is aligned with the opening 81 in the collet 68. Thereupon, the shear pin may. be slidably received through the ring 60 and through the collet, and when the end of the shear pin engages the radially extending portions 73, they will spring open and when the shear pin is pushed to its seated'position, the

spring finger ends '73 move into the recess 53 to hold the shear pin in place. Suitable means such as a screw 82 with a gasket 82a therebeneath may be secured through the head S2 and into the threaded opening 63 to retain the Shear pin Sti in the support ring 66. Of course, the shear pin Sli is secured in position after the valve means 25 and its components have been assembled within the body 13b. When the shear pin is inserted, it telescopically lits within the lower end of the tting 45 as shown in the drawings,l and after the screw 82 has been put in place, the device is ready to be lowered into the well bore.

While it is believed that the operation of the invention may be apparent from the foregoing, to further amplify and describe, it will be assumed that the device has been assembled and is lowered into the well bore, and it can be noted that as the device is lowered into the well bore, circulation of the drilling fluid may be continued, and in this event, the fluid will circulate through the passage 34 in the closure 33, through the passage 26, and thence through the passage 54 in the shear pin Sti to be discharged through the passage 64 and into the passage means 28 in the whipstock. The present invention is particularly advantageous in that its construction and arrangement enables high pressure fluid to be utilized to aid in cleaning out any sediment on the bottom of the well bore, and such high pressure fluid will not have any deleterious effect upon the operation of the tool, nor will it cause premature actuation of any component of the tool. After the drilling fluid has been circulated and discharged from the lower part of the whipstock 14 so as to clean the bottom of the well bore, a ball or other suitable closure member may be dropped in the drill string so as to close off the passage 34. When the passage 34 is closed off, the pump pressure may be increased so as to shear the pins 3S, and thereupon the closure 33 moves to the position shown in FlG. 2 of the drawings.

Thereafter all of the fluid flow will be circulated through the passage means Sil and through the body 13 and i311 to be discharged through the drill bit 13a.

When the drill string lll is moved longitudinally relative to the whipstock 14 that is resting on the bottom of the well bore, the shear pin Si) will shear, and particular attention is directed to the fact that the portion of the shear pin 50 within the body lb will be retained therein by the collet 63 in the manner as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Similarly, the portion of the shear pin in the whipstock will be retained therein by reason of the screw S2.

When the drilling operation has been completed and the device retrieved to the earths surface, the portions of the shear pin may be removed from the body 13b and whipstock 14 with a minimum of difficulty in that the portion in the whipstock can be removed merely by removing the screw 82 and withdrawing it from the support ring 6). The portion of the shear pin in the body 13b may be removed by first removing the snap ring 7i and then unscrewing collet 68 with the portion of the shear pin therein. By applying a longitudinal force to s the shear pin, the collet fingers 73 spring outwardly and ride up over tapered shoulder 53a and thereby enable the portion of the shear pin to be removed.

It is to be noted that a square or radial shoulder 53h is provided on shear pin 50 at the opposite end of annular recess 53. This locks the shear pin portion in sub 13b after shearing of the shear pin 50 and during rotation of the drill string l1.

Thereafter, the tool may be reassembled, and a new shear pin inserted with a minimum of effort in a manner as described hereinabove.

The eccentric or offset head portion 52 of shear pin S0 prevents improper insertion of shear pin 5@ in the devices and assures proper alignment of all fluid passages.

i A particular advantage of the present invention is thatl it enables all of the drilling fluid with a maximum amount of desired pressure to be discharged through the whipstock without prematurely actuating or effecting other tool parts. After the well bore has been cleaned, all of the drilling fluid may be thereafter circulated to the drill bit to aid in drilling operations. Thus, a positive selective control over the actuating and operation of the present invention is provided even though substantially high pressures may be employed in cleaning out the well bore bottom.

Broadly, the present invention relates to a circulating whipstock, and more particularly, to a circulating whipstock which is positive in action and which cannot be prematurely actuated even though substantially high pressures may be employed in cleaning the well bore.

What is claimed is:

l. In a drilling apparatus adapted to be secured on a drill string having a fluid conducting passage therein,

(a) a body having fluid passage conducting means for communicating with the fluid passage in the drill string,

(b) a whipstock extending longitudinally from said body and having fluid conducting passage means extending longitudinally thereof.

(fc) a shear pin slidably fitting through said whipstock and body and having passage means that communicates with said Whipstock passage means,

(d) valve means in said body,

(e) means engaging said valve means and holding it against movement relative to said body,

(f) said valve means including fluid passage means for communicating the drill string and said Whipstock passage means, and including additional passage means for discharging fluid from the drill string out the lower end of said body,

(g) closure means closing olf said additional passage means,

(h) shear pin means supporting said closure means in a position for closing off said additional passage means,

(i) said closure means having fluid passage means whereby fluid from the drill string is communicated to said whipstock passage means,

(j) means for closing said passage means in said closure whereupon fluid pressure in the drill string shears said shear pin that supports said closure and moves said closure whereby the drill string and said additional passage means in said closure means are in communication, and

(k) said shear pin in said whipstock and body being shearable upon longitudinal movement of said body relative to said whipstock.

2. In a drilling apparatus adapted to be secured to a drill string having a drill bit with fluid conducting passages therein,

(a) a whipstock extending longitudinally from the drill string and having fluid passage means extending longitudinally thereof,

(b) means connecting said body and whipstock for rotation together, said means Vhaving a fluid passage that communicates with said whipstock passage means,

(c) valve means in the drill string having passage means communicating the drill string with said connesting means passage, and additional passage means for communicating the drill string with the drill bit,

(d) means holding said valve means in the drill string against longitudinal movement regardless of the fluid pressure in the drill string,

(e) a closure means,

(f) shear means supporting said closure means to close off said additional passage means in said valve means,

(g) passage means in said closure for communicating with the drill string said valve passage means that communicates with said connecting means passage whereby fluid from the drill string is selectively directed to said whipstock iluid passage to wash out the well bore, and

(lz) said closure adapted to receive a member to close ol said passage therethrough whereupon said shear means releases said closure for movement longitudinally of said valve means to thereafter communicate the drill string to said additional passage means and the drill bit.

3. In a drilling apparatus adapted to be secured to a drill string having a drill bit with Huid conducting passages therein,

(a) a whipstock extending longitudinally from the drill string and having liuid passage means extending longitudinally thereof,

(b)` means connecting said body and whipstock for rotation together, said means having a liuid passage that communicates with said whipstock passage means,

(c) valve means in the drill string having passage means communicating the drill string with said connecting means passage, and additional passage means for communicating the drill string with the drill bit,

(d) means holding said valve means in the drill string against longitudinal movement regardless of the uid pressure in the drill string,

(e) a closure means,

(f) shear' means supporting said closure means to close oil said additional passage means in said valve means,

(g) passage means in said closure for communicating the drill string with said valve passage means that communicates with said connecting means passage whereby liuid from the drill string is selectively di rected to said whipstock uid passage to Wash out the well bore,

(h) said closure adapted to receive a member to close off said passage therethrough whereupon said shear means releases said closure for movement longitudinally of said valve means to thereafter communicate the drill string to said additional passage means and the drill bit,

(i) said connecting means being shearable upon longitudinal movement of the drill string relative to said Whipstock, and

(j) means in the drill string and said whipstock retaining said sheared connecting means, said means in said whipstock including a collet, circumferentially arranged projections thereon for engaging said connecting means which enable the sheared connecting means in said body to be removed by applying a force longitudinally of said connecting means.

4. A drilling apparatus for securing to a drill string having a drill bit thereon including,

(a) a whipstock for connection with the drill string and extending longitudinally thereof, said whipstock having a liuid passage longitudinally thereof,

(b) valve means in said body including passage means for communicating the drillstring with the drill bit thereon and for connecting the drill string with said whipstock uid passage,

(c) shear pin means extending through said whipstock and drill string and engaged with said valve means for aiding in holding said valve means against movement relative to the drill string,

(d) a closure member seated in said valve means to normally close ofic communication between the drill string and drill bit thereon, said closure member having passage means therethrough to normally communicate the drill string with said fluid passage in said whipstock, and

(e) said closure member passage means adapted to be closed olf to shift said closure member whereby said valve passage means communicate the drill string with the drill bit thereon and shut olf communication between the drill string and said whipstock pasage.

5. In a drilling apparatus wherein a drill bit is secured on a fluid conducting drill string in a well bore,

(a) a whipstock secured to the lower end of the drill string for deflecting the drill bit,

(b) said whipstock having tluid passage means therein for communicating fluid from the drill string through the whipstock for washing out the well bore,

(c) means for initially conducting all the lluid from the drill string to said whipstcck independently of the fluid pressure in the drill string,

(d) said last named means including valve means having passage means for communicating the drill string to said whipstock fluid passage means, and additional passage means for communicating the drill string to the drill bit,

(e) shear pin means extending through said whipstock and drill string and engaged with said passage means in said valve means for aiding in holding said valve means against movement relative to the drill string,

(f) said shear pin having a fluid passage for communieating said passage means in said valve and said whipstock passage means,

(g) closure means positioned in said valve means and having passage means therein to initially communicate the drill string and said whipstock passage means,

(lz) said closure means initially closing off communication between the drill string and drill bit,

(i) shear pin means holding said closure in said initial position, and

(j) means for closing o said passage means in said closure whereby fluid pressure in the drill string shears said shear pin means and moves said closure relative to said valve means to communicate the drill string and drill bit.

6. in a drilling apparatus wherein a drill bit is securedy on a fluid conducting drill string in a well bore,

(a) a whipstock secured to the lower end of the drill string for deecting the drill bit,

(b) said whipstock having iiuid passage means therein for communicating fluid from the drill string through the whipstock for washing out the well bore,

(c) means for initially conducting all the tluid from the drill string to said whipstock independently of the uid pressure in the drill string,

(d) said last named means including valve means having passage means for communicating the drill string to said whipstock iluid passage means, and additional passage means for communicating the drill string to the drill bit,

(e) closure means in said valve means initially closing olf said additional passage means in said valve, and having passage means to communicate the drill string and said whipstoclr uid passage means, and

(f) means for shifting said closure means in said valve means to open said additional passage means for communication of the drill string and drill bit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,778,477 10/30 Wood 64-28 2,438,676 3/48 Nickle et al 64-28 2,770,444 ll/56 Neal l66-1l7.5 2,978,032 4/61 Hanna l66-ll7.5

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. 

6. IN A DRILLING APPARATUS WHEREIN A DRILL BIT IS SECURED ON A FLUID CONDUCTING DRILL STRING IN A WELL BORE, (A) A WHIPSTOCK SECURED TO THE LOWER END OF THE DRILL STRING FOR DEFLECTING THE DRILL BIT, (B) SAID WHIPSTOCK HAVING FLUID PASSAGE MEANS THEREIN FOR COMMUNICATING FLUID FROM THE DRILL STRING THROUGH THE WHIPSTOCK FOR WASHING OUT THE WELL BORE, (C) MEANS FOR INITIALLY CONDUCTING ALL THE FLUID FROM THE DRILL STRING TO SAID WHIPSTOCK INDEPENDENTLY OF THE FLUID PRESSURE IN THE DRILL STRING, (D) SAID LAST NAMED MEANS INCLUDING VALVE MEANS HAVING PASSAGE MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING THE DRILL STRING TO SAID WHIPSTOCK FLUID PASSAGE MEANS, AND ADDITIONAL PASSAGE MEANS FOR COMMUNICATING THE DRILL STRING TO THE DRILL BIT, (E) CLOSURE MEANS IN SAID VALVE MEANS INITIALLY CLOSING OFF SAID ADDITIONAL PASSAGE MEANS IN SAID VALVE, AND HAVING PASSAGE MEANS TO COMMUNICATE THE DRILL STRING AND SAID WHIPSTOCK FLUID PASSAGE MEANS, AND (F) MEANS FOR SHIFTING SAID CLOSURE MEANS IN SAID VALVE MEANS TO OPEN SAID ADDITIONAL PASSAGE MEANS FOR COMMUNICATION OF THE DRILL STRING AND DRILL BIT. 